Will consider relaxing NOC condition for fire-fighting equipment in homestays: Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the state government would consider giving relaxation in the mandatory condition of no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the installation of fire safety equipment in homestays.

Sukhu was replying to a query of Manali MLA Buvneshwar Gaur, who sought relaxation for homestays being run in old heritage buildings, where it was not possible to install firefighting equipment. “The government will consider giving relaxation to homestays that are being run in old buildings. We will explore the possibility of other alternatives as well,” he assured the House.

To Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore’s question on the shifting of the Horticulture Directorate from Shimla city to Theog, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that there was no such proposal. “The Horticulture Directorate was set up at Nav Bahar in 1972. We have 30 bighas in Nav Bahar where 412 employees are posted. Keeping all this in mind, there is no proposal to shift it out of Shimla,” he added.

To Kasauli MLA Vinod Sultanpuri’s question, the Chief Minister said that the government would consider enhancing the charges of government rest houses in the state and also ensure proper rules for visitors staying there. The MLA pointed out that as a nominal room tariff of Rs 500 per day was being charged in these rest houses as compared to Rs 2500 in homestays, the owners of these tourism units were facing losses. He said that enhancing the room tariff of rest houses would generate revenue for the government after they were given a facelift.

The Chief Minister said that barring two rooms, the bookings in all rest houses were being done online. He admitted that some rest houses were in a run-down condition.